Random observation about online grad studies

[dfrecore]

As a North Carolinian the things that steered me away from unc public university system was cost, flexibility stringent admission and transfer policies. For a traditional college student I would suggest going the public university route since i think it is geared towards that student population.

For nontraditional students who require more flexibility like myself, obtaining a graduate degree from one of the above institutions was not in the cards. And I applied to UNC Chapel Hill (program cost 100k), NC State (program cost 50-60k) I chose the for profit route based on the factors listed earlier.

For an MBA at my local CA State University nearby, the flexibility would be an issue as well - you start in the summer, and go year-round for 18 months. The cost is $30k (as far as I can tell - an annual tuition fee of $6738 which doesn't include the required summer terms + course fees of $254/cr x 41cr). And you go to school on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays for the entire time. I can't imagine giving up my Saturdays for 18 months! That's nuts! Their admission policy is ok, not too bad. One thing is interesting:

"A Grade Point Average (GPA) of “B” (3.0) or better in the last 60 graded semester units, from a WASC-equivalent university. Only regular courses from four-year colleges and/or universities will be used in calculating an applicant’s GPA—no extension courses or community college courses will be included."

So for anyone who tested out of their BA/BS, they are going to have a hard time being accepted into this program. I couldn't get in, because my GPA at 4-yr colleges only is 2.6 (one terrible year and a half out of high school with a 1.9 GPA, and then a great couple of years 10 years after that, with a 3.5 GPA. So I would have to take 5 courses at a 4-year college and get all A's in order to raise my GPA up enough to apply to this school - and that only puts me at 51cr total, so I'm not certain if I would have to take 3 more courses/9cr to get to the 60cr. Ouch!